GHCC Spring job fair & Career expo success
It’s exciting to hear about the GHCC Career Expo, but even better to attend it. JDI Industrial Services was in attendance at the Greater Hall County Chamber’s Spring Job Fair & Career Expo in Gainesville, Georgia this past week. The team was there to support and grow from the Hall County network of qualified experts that came to the event at the Gainesville Civic Center‘s Ballroom.
The event featured over 70 companies with job-ready applicants signing up very quickly in this competitive jobs market. JDI joined the Gainesville market in 2023, and has been making a great reputation of providing highly-qualified mechanical and fabrication professionals to the county.
The Greater Hall County Chamber is about making great connection between its people and employers, and this event was exceptionally planned. Many applicants in the area came ready to enter the workforce, and the companies represent Hall County, Georgia at its best.
Gainesville georgia job opportunities
Gainesville has long been working at getting people from around the country and here in the Southeast to plant their roots. Employers and employees alike call the area home because of its talented people, good education system, natural resources, and low cost.
Since the 1996 Centennial Olympic games at Lake Lanier, the area became more than just a row and drive-by. Gainesville and the Greater Hall County area became a place that allows people to be entrepreneurial and able to grow a family in peace with prosperity.
This April marks another career fair focused at promoting the values of the community and giving people a chance to find the right fit. Employers from various sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and even the Hall County Sheriff’s Office display their abilities and the need for experienced and capable people.
While the event is mainly for job opportunists, it’s also evident that its about community networking. JDI Industrial Services works with manufacturers like Kubota. While there, we say hello and chat about the next Lake Lanier fishing trips. All around the expo event everyone knows each other, and even if they do not, they are welcoming and helpful. That’s the way it is in Hall County Georgia: be the helping hand, and give your best to your fellow neighbors.
Agricultural Recognition
Hall County is renowned for its lakes, and natural beauty, but it’s also known as the “Poultry Capital of the World”. Ask someone in the industry or from around Gainesville and Hall county, and chances are they’ll direct you to Gainesville, Georgia.
In 1945, a visionary named Jesse Jewell started what’s become the State of Georgia’s largest agricultural crop – poultry. The billion-dollar-a-year industry has earned Gainesville the nickname, “Poultry Capital of the World”, as its home to numerous poultry farms and production plants.
According to the University of Georgia, agriculture contributes approximately $73.3 billion annually to Georgia’s economy, with broilers holding the No. 1 spot in the Top 10 Georgia Commodities By Value list – eggs come in close at a No. 3 spot.
Today, poultry companies such as Pilgrims and Fieldale are at the top of the market and are right here in Hall County, Georgia. At the GHCC Career Expo they always have a presence as they are an integral part of the community.
The Community is growing
A key infrastructure project that is set to transform Hall County’s industrial landscape is the Blue Ridge Connector, commonly referred to as the Inland Port. “The Georgia Ports Authority is developing the Blue Ridge Connector to provide a rail connection between Hall County and the Port of Savannah,” says Tim Evans, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. “They’re doing that because of the existing industry that’s here and the need for that connection.”
Hall County is home to 330 advanced manufacturers and food processors, which account for roughly 30% of the local workforce, which is three times the state and national average. “The Blue Ridge Connector will have the capacity to handle up to 200,000 containers per year at full build out, and it’s under construction now to be complete in 2026,” according to Evans.
Since 2020, the advanced manufacturing sector in Hall County has seen significant growth, with 53 new or expanded projects, creating 3,500 new jobs and generating over $1.5 billion in capital investment. Notable companies include Kubota, ZF Group, Fox Factory, Kings Hawaiian, Mars Wrigley, Makita USA, and CJ Foodville.
“It’s a real strength for our community to have these high-skill positions that are in automation and fabrication but also the executive offices for those businesses, because many of them have their North American headquarters co-located with their facility and their R&D co-located with production.”
The event begins with many smiles and ends with over 400 applications.
Hall County Sheriff's Office educates the applicants on how they serve the community best.
Bitzer SE is a manufacturer of refrigeration and air conditioning technology in Gainesville, Georgia.
Career applicants filling out forms at the GHCC Career Expo Spring event.
Georgia Department of Corrections is fully ready to manage their inmates with their new hires.
The Gainesville Times is a daily newspaper based in Gainesville, Georgia, that covers Hall County and Northeast Georgia
Gainesville City School System, a charter school that brings youths in Hall County to the top of their class.
Kings Hawaiian has a bakery facility in Oakwood, Georgia which has provided over 300 jobs for the Gainesville-Hall County community.
ZF is a global technology company in Gainesville, GA that supplies advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology.
Luttrell Staffing Group provides opportunities for a variety of good jobs and roles in Gainesville, GA.
Brenau University shows their brightest and best a path to success.
Northside Hospital serves the community with care.
Kubota, a global manufacturer of heavy equipment in agriculture and more.
The Chattahoochee Country Club is a renowned club that offers dining, golf, marina, and more.
Star Choices, Inc. is an organization that helps people with disabilities in Hall County and beyond.
BTD, a Metalwork Company in Gainesville, GA.
GHCC's Emily Pearce welcoming people at the Career Expo.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, the fourth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the US.
Excited for continuing expansion
Hall County and Gainesville are continuing to bolster their initiatives for small and large businesses alike. The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce has a slew of events on their 2025 calendar to promote their businesses and people. Each day of the week you can find something to go to that allows you to network. The GHCC Career Expo alone brought over 650 applicants and 200 exhibitors together.
Georgia has earned the #1 ranking for its business environment for an unprecedented tenth year in a row; during that time, Gainesville-Hall County has been the top job producing Metropolitan Area in the state. In 2023, Area Development Magazine and Site Selection Magazine named Gainesville-Hall County one of the top Small Metros in the nation for job creation and investment. Just as well, Forbes Magazine has rated Gainesville-Hall County as one of the “Best Small Places for Business & Careers” for the last nine years.
Ellie Cardin, Vice President of Membership Events, says that the continuing growth and events, “is simply astounding.” She further elaborates and says, “my team is constantly busy with promoting Greater Hall County with events like the GHCC Career Expo, Networking Over Coffee, Business After Hours, and seminars.” She adds, “rarely are the events not packed!”
The reason manufacturing, small business, and folks continue to come to Hall County and GHCC events is clear to anyone: it’s a great place to be.
WHY JDI and Greater Hall County?
JDI Industrial Services turn-key mechanical contractors play a critical role in the surrounding manufacturing industries in Greater Hall County. They ensure the seamless integration of mechanical systems within buildings, connect the various electrical systems and production lines, and fabricate the process piping for their plants.
These professionals’ mostly hail from Oconee County, and particularly Westminster, SC, as well as Hartwell and Gainesville, Georgia. Our expertise extends beyond installations, piping, and projects. We are fathers and mothers, caring people, and we take clients from being overwhelmed to feeling confident.
Why? Because we believe in passionate, superior service. It’s what we do when no one is watching, and what is apparent when someone is. Our reputation for giving our best and brightest in Georgia to solve our partners problems is what keeps us coming back for more.
We contribute significantly to the functionality and safety of local facilities and their production lines. This impact is felt in both new constructions and retrofit projects. We are also able to connect clients with the right supplier network to get their project correctly supplied and budgeted, and properly underway.
a good Mechanical Contractor: Proven results
Choosing the right contractor is crucial for project success. Start by evaluating their experience and past projects; talk to past clients and ask for referrals. A proven track record with industrial mechanical work, piping, fabrication, and project management is indicative of success. Related industries projects often indicates reliability and expertise.
We are a licensed mechanical contractor that can operate across the Southeast, and we particularly serve the Greater Hall County manufacturers and producers. The ability to get the right people can give you the results you’re looking for, and therefore that is just what we do. Gainesville, Lula, and the whole of Hall County produces good working-class people to serve the clients we care for.
JDI has a mechanical license in the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Due to our unlimited licensure, this allows us to work on mechanical projects up to $100 mm.
Communication skills and customer service are important. As a contractor who communicates effectively, we can address concerns promptly. This helps in maintaining a clear and quicker process, and keeps everyone safe on our jobsites.
Additionally, seek references or reviews from our past clients. Honest feedback can offer insights into JDI’s professionalism and work quality. Randy Blackston from Glen Raven is a wonderful example of the kind of relationships we build with leaders in local communities.
We at JDI look forward to continuing to be a part of the GHCC Career Expo and the area’s manufacturing sectors.
